Tag: reading

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week In Books: December 28 – January 3

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You may notice a theme in this week’s reading.  Yes I went all out for the end of the Pink Carnation series and read another Lauren Willig I had on the kindle as well.  And then while writing about Deanna Raybourn in my 2015 Obsessions post I found that a the book sale gods were smiling on me, and I could reading the rest of the Lady Julia Books safe in the knowledge that I wouldn’t get left on a cliff hanger!  I’m still trying to ration myself on the new Laurie Graham – by which I mean only letting myself read a bit more every few days to try and stop myself from bingeing.  So far it’s working.

Read:

The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla by Lauren Willig

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

Whisper of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn

The Lure of the Moonflower by Lauren Willig

The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn

Bleakly Hall by Elaine di Rollo

Started:

n/a

Still reading:

The Night in Question by Laurie Graham

Princes at War by Deborah Cadbury

Oh dear.  Massive Deanna Raybourn spending spree in the Kindle sale (as mentioned in my 2015 Obsessions post), then there was the only Hellions of Halsted Hall book I haven’t read on offer for 99p.  How could I resist.

books, stats

December Stats

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On Good Reads to-reads shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 425

New books read this month: 36*

Books from the Library Book pile: 1

Books from the to-read pile: 13

Ebooks read: 21

Most read author: I’m giving it to Lauren Willig – because I’ve read 2 of her novels and half of a third – as opposed to Debbie Macomber’s 2 books or Julia Williams’s one book and 3 (very) short stories.

Books read this year: 368

Books bought: 15 – all ebooks except 1

Loads of reading done this month – thank you week of tonsillitis – and I managed to resist the urge to buy books until the post-Christmas ebook sales kicked in.  As far as the New Year’s Resolutions a library books and a non-fiction started – but not finished.

And thus the year comes to an end.  I’ll be doing a more considered look at my reading stats over the last year in a few days – in the meantime, check out my post on my 2015 Obsessions!

*Includes some short stories/novellas (10 this month)

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week In Books: December 21 – December 27

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More Christmas-y reading and a few tie-in short stories for last week’s Make a Christmas Wish.  I’m trying to make the Laurie Graham last – I love her books so much and I know there’s going to be a longer wait than usual for her next one, so against all my usual behaviour I’m trying to pace myself!

Read:

A Wicked Way to Win an Earl by Anna Bradley

Four Weddings and a White Christmas by Jenny Oliver

My Christmas Wish by Julia Williams

Dad’s Christmas Wish by Julia Williams

Granny’s Christmas Wish by Julia Williams

Anything for You by Kristan Higgins

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Started:

Princes at War by Deborah Cadbury

Still reading:

The Night in Question by Laurie Graham

No books bought, but several received as gifts – and they were all ones that I had asked for so that’s excellent news.  I’m going to try to continue to restrain myself, although if I see some good bargains I may not be able to!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week In Books: December 14 – December 20

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Well this is what a week of Tonsillitis will do for the to-read pile!  And a reasonable mix of actual books and ebooks too.  I finally called time on Lair of Dreams this week – I tried again to get into it and I couldn’t.  It’s been lingering way too long, so I’ve reluctantly given up on it.

Read:

Paint the Town Dead by Sybil Johnson

Bricking It by Nick Spalding

A Talent for Trickery by Alyssa Johnson

311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber

Agatha Raisin and the Blood of an Englishman by MC Beaton

74 Seaside Avenue by Debbie Macomber

Snowed in for Christmas by Clare Sandy

Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin

The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham

Make a Christmas Wish by Julia Williams

A Christmas in Disguise by Katie Fforde

Started:

The Night in Question by Laurie Graham

A Wicked Way to Win an Earl by Anna Bradley

Still reading:

n/a

I managed to control myself and no books were ordered from my sickbed.  Which is impressive.  I did do some shopping – but it wasn’t for me!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week In Books: December 7 – December 13

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I’m really struggling with Lair of Dreams – I just can’t get into it, but I hate giving up on a book, so I’m going to give it one more week and try to break through and see if I can get into it.  I developed a cold after last weekend’s nights and thought it was getting better until it struck back with a vengeance on Friday and the weekend, so comfort reading has been the order of the day, rather than the Christmas new releases that I should be looking at!

Read:

Mitzi’s Midwinter Wedding by Christina Jones

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

One by Sarah Crossan

First Season and Bride to Be (double pack) by Jane Ashford

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days by Christina Jones

A Winterfold Christmas by Harriet Evans

Started:

Paint the Town Dead by Sybil Johnson

Still reading:

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

I didn’t buy me any books this week.  I have bought other people books as part of their Christmas presents – but that doesn’t count does it!

books, stats, The pile, week in books

The Week In Books: November 30 – December 6

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Back on track this week!  I finished a few books that I’d been reading for a while, and then started on the e-book and physical to-read pile.

Read:

Masquerade by Hannah Fielding

Master of Shadows by Neil Oliver

After You by Jojo Moyes

Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards

Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie

From Bad to Wurst by Maddy Hunter

His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal

Started:

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

Still reading:

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

I have been very restrained and not bought anything at all this week.  I’m not sure that it will last though.  I’ve been trying to put any books that I want on my Christmas list, but I think I’m running out of people who buy me presents who might get them for me!

 

books, stats

November Stats

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On Good Reads to-reads shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 421

New books read this month: 22*

Books from the Library Book pile: 0

Books from the to-read pile: 13

Ebooks read: 5

Most read author: Janet Evanovich and Cathy Bramley level on 2 all

Books read this year: 332

Books bought: 6 books (which have arrived, and orders in with a few more dealers), 3 ebooks

Backsliding on everything – as you might expect if you’ve been reading the last few weeks.  Too many books bought, lots of re-reading rather than new reading and as far as the New Year’s Resolutions no library books, although I did read a nonfiction book.

*Includes some short stories/novellas (1 this month)

books, stats

October Stats

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On Good Reads to-reads shelf (I don’t have copies of all of these!): 420

New books read this month: 30*

Books from the Library Book pile: 1

Books from the to-read pile: 11

Ebooks read: 15

Most read author: Janet Evanovich (again – what can I say, I’m a predictable so-and-so)

Books read this year: 309*

Books bought: 5 books and 2 ebooks

I was going so well on the reading this month – and then the post nightshift slump hit me and I didn’t have time/the concentration/the inclination to read that much and it slipped away a little.  Backsliding on the purchasing front this month too – I blame nightshifts! As far as New Year’s Resolutions go – fair progress – 1 library book and a nonfiction book.

*Includes some short stories/novellas (2 this month)

Book of the Week, historical

Book of the Week: A Hundred Summers

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A fairly easy choice for BotW this week – Beatriz Williams’ A Hundred Summers was my favourite read last week – although Alexander McCall Smith’s children’s book School Ship Tobermory is great fun too (I’ve already posted my copy to Eldest Niece because I think she’ll love it).  And it’s nice to feature a new (to me) author for BotW too.

I started reading A Hundred Summers on the train to work and was glued to the sofa when I got home!

A Hundred Summers tells the story of Lily Dane, who has returned to her family’s summer house in Rhode Island.  Also back in Seaview in summer 1938 is her childhood friend Budgie and her new husband – and Lily’s former fiancé – Nick.  As the summer unrolls, Lily falls back in with glamourous Budgie and the truth about how she and Nick betrayed Lily starts to emerge as a storm barrels towards them.

Regular readers will know that I love stories set in the early 20th century – and more specifically between the two world wars.  And I love time slip books.  And while a narrative which jumps between 1932 and 1938 isn’t quite as big a gap as some, and it features the same characters in both, it still ticks all my boxes for that too.  There’s something about the interwar period – in the UK, the US or Europe – that just really works for me and Beatriz Williams has created a fabulous and believable world with a dark secrets at its heart.

I was fascinated by Lily’s story.  She’s an interesting character – smart and independent in someways, but quite naive and unworldy in others. For a while I thought I had it all figured out – then the book surprised me again and I really do like it when that happens.  Reading as many books as I do it can become quite easy to be a bit cynical and jaded and to spot how a plot is going to unfold before it happens, and it’s always nice when your expectations are challenged.

I’ve been wanting to read Beatriz Williams’ books for a while – several US authors that I like have recommended her at various points and she’s writing a book with Lauren Willig (who I love as you know) – but it’s been hard to get hold of them over here for a reasonable price.  I think that has changed with A Hundred Summers – this got a wide release and was in the supermarkets over the summer if I recall correctly.  It certainly made it to the point where Amazon were offering it for practically half price – which usually means it’s in the supermarkets’ 2 for £7 promotions.  I’m certainly hoping that I’ll be able to get hold of more of her books now – and the samples at the back of A Hundred Summers certainly hint at that.

Get your copy from Amazon, Kindle, Waterstones, Foyles and Kobo (at time of writing Amazon not only the best price for paperback by a little way, but it was included in its 3 for £10 deal in case you need any further encouragement to buy books…).  I’m off to hunt for her back catalogue and to put some pre-orders…

 

stats, The pile, week in books

The Week In Books: October 5 – October 11

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A more steady, but still productive week. There were somethings that I really liked, and some that I didn’t – and there were a couple of research howlers too.  Hey ho, it happens.

Read:

The Last Chance Christmas Ball by Mary-Jo Putney et al

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria by Lauren Willig

Unmasking of a Lady by Sophie Dash

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne

Good Earl Gone Bad by Manda Collins

The Love Match by M C Beaton

Started:

A Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh

Still reading:

Still n/a!

I didn’t buy anything!  My first week back at my normal job and I resisted the urge to purchase books – even though I really wanted to buy the last in the Pink Carnation series to have it ready.  The pile it is decreasing!